My Psychology Behind Gift Giving

I have a ton of posts that pop up on IG that give gift ideas.  A lot of them are ideas for gift baskets stuffed full of thoughtful, like themed items including thrifted items so it's not a bank buster.  While they look nice, all I can't help but think is "great, a basket full of crap I didn't ask for that I'm going to have to donate and they wasted their money."  It's not that I don't appreciate the thought behind it but coming from my background where money was tight or Mom had to work a few jobs, the biggest thing that gets to me is people wasting money on things I know I'll never use.  (And frankly, I don't have the space to keep things anymore out of guilt.)  

I remember I used to do family gifts for relatives and I would put together something like movie passes and candy or a board game that looked like fun with accoutrements.  When I saw the board game in a garage sale the following year, that was that for my going the extra mile on what I thought would be good gifts.  While it hurt pretty bad at the time, I get it now.  They didn't have room for a board game they didn't ask for knowing they weren't going to try a different way to spend time together.  It's nice to want to give people something but how many mugs stuffed with candy or random candles that make them sneeze can someone take?  There's a point where a gift can become a bummer if it's not actually personal to the people.  Here are some ideas that don't take up a lot of space, are thoughtful and will be much appreciated.  

When we were kids we circled our toys in the wish books or ads but when I started Amazon lists or links, it was like "where's the surprise in that?"  Um...I do not like money wasting surprises.  If I don't give specifics, I end up with a wrought iron pineapple and a sequined hula girl purse because "you like Hawaii."  (And trust me, they notice when you don't have the pineapple out.)  I'm here to plant some psychological seeds in your head so you're known as the super thoughtful gift giver!

Let's start with people you may not know as well.  Maybe it's a co-worker, your mail person, your dog groomer, etc. but it's that person that you have a bit of a surface relationship with.  Everyone will likely love these:

Gift Cards:

Amazon

Target

Walmart

Etsy

Gas Card 

VISA gift card

Seriously, no more than that unless you know something very specific about their tastes.  (Like if you know they drink coffee, don't assume they want Starbucks.  Some people prefer Peets or Caribou or a local shop because they want to support local.  This is why sticking with something broader usually works best.)

Let's move up to the people you know a little better but I want you to ask yourself something first.  How well do you really know them?  More importantly, do you know the current version of them?  I know someone who liked those SnoCap candies and for some reason that always stuck with me.  I grabbed them a box and they said "oh gosh, I haven't had these in ages!"  (I assume code for, "I'll pop one if I open it at all then chuck them but thanks.")   Want another example?  The Mr's family had this tradition with his grandma who loved those Harry and David pears.  Everyone always got a box and of course we sent his mom some over the years until we found out she used to get so many that she'd start giving them out to other people.  Well those things are way too expensive to have her giving our gift to other people.  Then she got the idea that giving the Mr a box would mean as much to him as it did to her and despite knowing I don't like them she'd send 8-12 of them.  They would be hard as rocks for most of the time then ripen within 3 days of each other and he'd have to scarf as many as he could or throw them away.  He FINALLY got her to stop sending them then his oldest brother he has no relationship with decided to send them after an attack of guilt.  We specifically told him we weren't going to be home and he sent them anyway so we had a friend of mine come to pick them up and we said he could have them because we wouldn't be home in time to eat them.  The brother stopped sending them after realizing his guilt pears went to some rando.  So make sure it's something the people can use or want, in the appropriate amount, and make sure they'll be home to receive it if you're sending a gift.  Most purposely don't advertise when they're going out of town, don't add to their stress by having a package on their porch advertising they're gone.

So how do you find out what people like?  If you know they're on Facebook or some form of social media, you can see who they follow.  People usually follow restaurants, local stores they like, etc so you could always do a little digging that way.  If you run in the same circles or know someone who knows them better, ask for their suggestion.  You also need to keep a sharp ear out.  Little hints unknowingly dropped in conversations are good intel to tuck away (jot it down if you've got your phone on you.)  Be stealthy too because if I say I like Life Savers, what *I* mean is one roll of butter rum life savers which are almost impossible to find.  What it would mean to the Mr is he likes cherry life savers and if you got us the variety pack, I'd pick out two flavors from it and chuck the rest or eat them out of guilt and he'd eat one flavor he really likes and settle for the other flavors even though he doesn't like them.  Then we'd both feel crappy about ourselves for eating the ones we don't even like and start a cycle of self hatred of not being able to control ourselves around food.  See the difference?  I like bang for my buck and to show I'm paying attention.  If you want to be stealthy and ask for their suggestions for something for 'yourself.'  "Hey, I'm in a tea/coffee rut, what are your favorites?"  

If you flat out don't want to screw around, send them the following message:

"I'm updating my list of favorites for people and it's your turn!  

Favorite restaurants

Favorite beverages (specific coffee, tea, flavors, etc)

Favorite stores (websites, big and local ones)

Favorite candies or snacks

Favorite brand of candles, scents, etc

Any others you want to pass along!"

I hope that's given you a good starting point to think about gift giving from a different perspective.  Many people have limited space and making sure they get what they actually want or need will make sure they have a happier holiday!

How do you determine gifts for the people on your list?

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Twilight Zone Weekend Recap

Hello Monday, you saucy beeotch.  Here we are again.  Well, this recap is definitely much different than I thought it would look.  Matter of fact, I jinxed it last week by pre-writing the first part of what I anticipated we would have done and that drastically changed, as you know, by Thursday.  Friday the day was an absolute chaotic trip to the Twilight Zone.

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We had three dudes total from the bathroom project coming in and out doing productive stuff like reading the adhesive bottle for the first time and realizing their skin will peel off if they get any on their hands, lollygagging in between skim coats, the little dude telling the Mr it was safe to turn on and test the water before it was and freaking out the dude who knew a little more but was going to leave us with an untested shower.  Then it was time for the HOA roofer dude to join the party but you know, not do anything because it was misty outside.  The bathroom people were done by noon and said to give it 24 hours to cure so no showering until noon on Saturday.  The Mr and the roofer dude were chatting it up so the bathroom dudes left and said "we're done" to which my mental self retorted "the hell you are" but I know he's really just on plumbing and drywall so he probably thought he was done.  (Until the other dudes come back to install the niches and doors and crack into the walls some more and need to have them repatched again.)  The house was quite stinky the rest of the day from all of the caulk and joint compound so it was fan city.  

Upon further inspection before our nightly walk, the mook didn't skim coat all the way to the new wall so, to us, that is not done.  The Mr texted the project manager who was supposed to have gotten back to us with the solution by midday and that piece of paper they call a shower curtain wasn't it.  He said he contacted the manufacturer and they are going to get back to him about when they can send someone out to repair the base and cap.  Fine.  Then TELL US THAT.  Keep us in the damn loop.  The Mr also conveyed this mistake has completely screwed our timeline as we can't do anything else to put together a working bathroom or order countertops until they do their part.  

The other thing that fills us with dread is the doors.  They're frosted and sitting unopened in the garage which by the way we can't use because of it.  We desperately want to look at them so if there is an issue, they can reorder them now but we also know then the liability is on us because they can say we scratched it, so we can't.  It's like all of the bad parts of the kitchen experience didn't come back to us until the guy who ruined the cap and base walked in.  He was the weak link then and four years later that hasn't changed.  They are not dealing with the same people they were four years ago so shizz will get ugly and mama never wrote her kitchen review so give me ammunition to write both.  I've been running on no more than 3-4 hours of sleep per night for 5 weeks and this situation just reinforces that behavior until we're the ones back in control.

Saturday we were both crawling out of our skin to get out of the house.  Time for a half day's drive for some Portillo's.

We stopped by Cinnaholic too which is always a favorite and then to walk a bit of it off, we stopped by a favorite park to go on a big ol' loop.

We picked up three geocaches while we were in Indianapolis adjacent territory.  It's always nice to get a few in and add to our total.  

It was a much needed mental health day and home was the last place we wanted to be.  We told the grocery store who refused to move our pickup time even though they were already working on it to shove it and we got it on the way back and picked up dinner while the Mr watched his recorded football game and I got extra steps by hopping on the floor bike to get to 10,000 for the day.  I also had to suck down some water because I was TERRIBLE at it last week at the worst possible time with the vein procedure.  I have a crappy habit of platelet built up so I should've had more liquid moving through my shrinking veins.  I was religious about wearing my doc prescribed thigh high hose to keep the compression up top.  I started taking full strength aspirin so it could nip any issues in the bud so she doesn't try to tell me anything looks weird at the follow up.

Sunday I think the irritations of the week(s) were setting in.  I'm tired of brushing my teeth over a toilet or shower.  I'm tired of washing my hands in the shower.  Tired of having to settle for crap because someone else might screw it up like the crap caulking job they did before they left but the Mr thinks they'll scratch stuff trying to remove it.  So I guess I have that to look forward to in a few years to do myself because that portion of our 11K doesn't cover them doing caulking right.  My Aldi order is for today instead of yesterday which I didn't know when I placed it Saturday.  I was waiting on the new shower curtain (because words can't express the suck that is the one they provided us) and when I ordered it it said it would be ready at one time but it kicked out to the following day.  Knowing there's only one day the roofer dude can do anything this week (today) because the rest of the week is all rain which is fine with me but not conducive to people working on the roof.  Radon people are coming out tomorrow and we've gotta pay for that and I *really* feel like they didn't install the top right but I'm sure there will be some dumbass excuse as to why them resting it against the gutter is just fine.  We got our nicer temporary shower curtain and the Mr put that up.  While I folded sheets and got them straight into the new sheet storage sleeves.  Then I went into the bathroom and whilst sitting and looking around, I glance up and I see dents in the ceiling that were not there before they came in to do the install and my blood just started boiling.  I could hear the Mr thumping around in the office and when I came out, he was standing there with a broken ceramic turtle we got in Hawaii many years ago that we always loved.  It didn't occur to us that they would be using the multi-tool for some reason and things fell off of the shelves when they were vibrating the entire wall.  We just didn't think and we paid the price with something sentimental to us.  We have to find what was inside which includes a set of directions the Mr's dad had given us on our way to visit them in NY over 20 years ago.  I'm just so angry about why this crap is constantly happening to us with damage, disrespect to our property, etc.  They will be skim coating the entire ceiling and sanding it.  We're both fuming.  To work some of my fury off, I did the floor bike for over 10K steps.

Today I go back for my follow up ultrasound and I can tell you that I know it was working because there was a freaky ass red inflammation bruise 36 hours later where you could see my entire vein across my thigh.  It dissipated after but it freaked out both the Mr and I.  After they make sure all is well there, they will do my FINAL vein today in my calf.  (The one that prompted me to even do this so of course it's last.  😒)  Then I will hopefully only have to do the bottom calf high compression hose which is a lot more comfortable and I have a few pairs of toeless ones I can wear to bed tonight since it'll be a 36 hour stretch day one.  Then I'll have the immediate follow up Wednesday and my final follow up on the 4th which I moved up by two weeks because if something is going to happen, it would likely be that first two weeks and I want this (and everything else) DONE.

How was your weekend?

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What I'm Reading This Week #46

It's finally Friday y'all!  What a friggin' week.  We've been stuck in such limbo for 7 weeks that finally getting the tub to shower conversion done seemed like this hazy dream goal that was promised but never going to happen and we were right.  

The majority of day one was listening to demo chaos and my face looking like this:

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Nothing like hearing the multi-tool ripping off your walls and chiseling out your tub out and of course it was right over our heads whilst trying to work.  (To the point I didn't even bother because it was too distracting.)  That project was the cornerstone of us being able to move forward with everything else that we were hyped up to do almost 2 months ago.  Our first 'gift' was them putting a 2" gash in the bathroom door that I wasn't planning on repainting until well into next year.  So we had to take it off of the hinges and lean it in the hallway.  Yeah, the girl who doesn't even want the Mr on the same floor as her when she poops under normal circumstances now has no bathroom door on the loo.  😳

Then it was time to go get my veins pumped full of solvent to dissolve them and wear my sexy compression ho.  (One leg so no hose.)  We chatted about the reno while she worked on the thigh vein and said she was thinking of doing the same thing in her kid's bathroom.  When I told her it was $11K I instantly saw her butt pucker and she was like "woah!!  I had no clue it would be that much!"  I told her I know it's a lot of money but it's only going to get more expensive.  At least that's what we tell ourselves.  

Before I recap how the whole thing went, let's jump into:

Micro-Walks’ May Have a Big Impact on Your Health, Study Finds (This is a super small study but this is an amount everyone can easily do)

Why we should ‘lift heavy’ as we get older  (Or lift at all.  We've been horrible about it for months now.)

13 High-Protein Soup Recipes That Are Hearty, Comforting, and So Satisfying. (Gotta love soup season!)

The #1 Habit to Break to Reduce Visceral Fat, According to Dietitians  (I know, I know!)

Here’s Why It’s So Impossible to Get Reliable Diet Advice From the News  (So basically everything you just read here was for nothing! 😂) 

Never Worry About Dusting Tall Shelves Again By Reusing Old Newspaper. (I do this on top of the fridge or you can go this route if you want something washable.)

How to Avoid Soggy Bottoms—and 6 More Pie-Baking Mistakes, According to Pros  (Because no one likes a soggy bottom.  *Looks in mirror*)

Is it Rude To Ask A Guest To Take Their Shoes Off?  (Let me break this down for you in a way I didn't understand until we rented from a lady in San Francisco 14 years ago who was militant about no shoes in the house.  She had signs up about not bringing the "grime of the city" inside.  Translation?  You've been walking in human and animal urine/ feces, same with spit, snot and vomit but diluted whether you know it or not.  Don't forget oils, solvents, squished berries, bugs, dirt from your walks/hikes and 100 other things you don't see or think of.  If you think you need to live in a big city for that to apply, you're wrong.  Get a boot tray to put by the door when company comes with one pair of shoes on it.  If they're not total idiots, they should get the hint)

How to Get Rid of Sentimental Items Without Feeling Guilty  (This can be hard to do whether it's your own stuff or things you inherited)

The Correct Way To Measure Board And Batten Walls For Your DIY  (In case anyone is planning winter or spring to do updates)

Any Cure fans out there?  Check out this ad free concert Robert and the gang released last week!

If anyone is interested in the Grief at the Holidays webinar the Mr and I attended, here's the replay link.  There's also a workbook of sorts with the writing prompts she used if you prefer to go that route.

Miss some posts here this week?  Catch up below!

You've Got to Be Kidding Me Weekend Recap

Hump Day Poll: Indoor vs Outdoor?

Holiday Hostess with the Mostest

Now to round up the reno in short by last night.  Well uh...I don't know how to break it to you as we're still processing this ourselves.  They scratched the base of the shower and the ceiling cap yesterday...DEEP.  We could hear them forcing panels in and finally giving up to cut them.  Here's a sample of a disturbing chat I had with the Mr yesterday whilst said forcing was happening as we sat 12' from each other:

The Mr took pics of the damage and sent it to the project manager who thankfully called us back within 5 minutes falling all over himself apologizing.  We are having a "temporary solution" of a shower rod today so we have our only working shower and they're going to try a scratch kit and if it looks like crap then it all needs replaced.  Keep in mind that we can't do ANYTHING ELSE with our bathroom (flooring, wallpaper, vanity, etc until their part is done and we've already made it clear we didn't pay for scratch and dent.

So yeah.  We're breaking out the wine FOR SURE.  We both effing give up.  It's been a while since I've seen the Mr that close to tears of anger.

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It's time to get your Christmas shopping on.  I've got some stuff in the shop for your introverts and pet lovers as well as holiday gear for you!

  Socially Selective Mug -Cat Lover Candle- Most Likely to Spoil the Grandkids Shirt- 

In the Mooood for Christmas Baby Cow Shirt- I'm Fine Tangled Lights Shirt-Feelin' Jolly Shirt

What is on your plate for the weekend?  Enjoy yours a little extra for us!

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Holiday Hostess with the Mostest

Are you the house everyone gathers at for the holidays, the big game and the best thing you invested in was a ton of folding chairs to accommodate everyone?  No?  How about this?  Do you like to do little spreads for you and your honey whether it's the holidays or not?  I've got some pretty cool finds that will help keep hot stuff hot, cold stuff cold and your schedule hummin'.  

Rollable & Portable Electric Warming Tray

If you don't want to keep the stove on to keep things warm while everyone eats, this roll up heating tray is awesome to keep bowls of mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls or whatever you fancy.  This is also good if you're traveling and you can plug it in and make sure the dish you bring stays piping hot.  (How I wish I had this in the family gathering days so my stuffing stayed warm.)

Lazy Susan Food Turntable

If you have a big ol' table that you usually have to carefully place side dishes where you can.  Put this in the middle, put your taters, mac and cheese, cheeseball and other goodies on each pad and then rotate the pad to either side to move the next dish in front of you.  Pretty cool!!

Chilled 5 Compartment Condiment Server Caddy with Hinged Lid

Nobody likes warm crudité veggies to nosh on while people arrive.  Make sure that never happens again with this nifty serving caddy!  Put ice in the bottom and keep the cold stuff cold and covered because you KNOW someone is showing up with some creeping crud they'll try to share. 

Pie, Cake, Dessert Travel & Storage Container

If your peeps are all about the cakes and pies for the holidays, this pie safe is adjustable to fit pies, cakes, cupcakes, tarts and the like.  It fits for normal sized pies and has a door to keep them all dog hair, dust and cooties free while they're waiting on you to dig in!  Order early on this one as it's not two day delivery.

Lifewit Insulated Double Casserole Carrier Thermal Lunch Tote

This thing is a God send not only if you're traveling and bringing sides/desserts but it can be used to keep things warm while you're using the oven.  (Like keep cooked rolls in here or stuffing if you still need to use the oven.)  Truly one of the best things I own.

Four-Event Digital Timer with Whiteboard 

I'm SO getting this for cookie baking day because I'm always having to write down what timer is for what between the oven and microwave.  This could be a God send for baking day, the actual holiday, game day, etc.  I have other Taylor products so I hope this one is as good.

I have to say I really wish we had enough people to justify that centerpiece plate spinner thingy because that looks so cool!  😁  I hope these have given you some cool ideas for holiday entertaining to help make the day run a little smoother.  Lord knows we all need a little help whether it's two people or twenty!

Do any of these look appealing to you?

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Hump Day Poll: Indoor vs Outdoor?

Welp, it's happening today.  The tub to shower conversion is scheduled over the next three days.  At 8am we'll have a team of people traipsing through the house while we try to work.  Oh and while I try to remember that I have a vein procedure today too.  You know,  the one that is apparently coded the way it should've been the whole time that does NOT actually require pre-approval meaning I could've been done with this crap in July!!!  Don't get me started.

But that's not why you're here.

Sooo, indoor clothes vs outdoor clothes.  Is this a thing?  I keep hearing more and more about not wearing your outdoor clothes in the house after you've been out shopping, walking or doing anything outdoors and bringing those clothes into your bedroom is a big no no because of bugs, germs, dirt or whatever.

I'm not knocking it (and certainly not wondering if the same people are brushing their dog's teeth before allowing a kiss because you know darn well that tongue has just given it's privates a full oral bath 10 minutes earlier).  Just curious to know the reasoning behind it if anyone practices this so if this is something I need to be taking seriously or is it a generational difference?

Have you heard of this?  Thoughts?

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You've Got to Be Kidding Me Weekend Recap

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Good morning! I hope you had a good weekend and hope most of you have today off for Veterans Day to extend things a bit. Last Friday I got to sanding our vanity hardware, towel ring and toilet paper holder so I could put Rub n Buff (European Gold) on them so that everything matches.  That's the only trouble going with metal finishes and one person's brushed nickel looks quite different than another companies and Lord forbid they sell a big ol' set from the same place.  I like the way it all looks so I'm anxious to get it all installed.

We also had the HVAC dude the HOA sent over out to check/replace the chimney cap on the exhaust vent which is the last friggin' thing we could've looked at.  He seemed to think there was nothing more wrong than just it being attached by one screw.  Oh you mean the thing that's supposed to be attached by four screws??  There's nothing wrong with it having 75% less screws than required?  Mmm kay.  Also, the Mr heard the noise duplicated when he was removing the cap so we were PRAYING this did the trick.  All was going well and an hour later..."bang bang....bang."  MOTHER EFFER, you've got to be kidding me!!!  We were beyond ticked and truly so at a loss as to what this noise could be.  My only other guess is either loose gutters from squirrels/birds landing on it and / or the radon tube being right against the gutter.  (Though tapping the radon pipe doesn't sound like the noise.  It's so frustrating, I can't even tell you.)  We even wondered about it being behind the fireplace but it would make a different sound if it was.

To round out Friday, I had a therapy appointment.  It was a weird one but it was fine.  I gave what she says was the perfect analogy.  I held up my travel mug and said "I am up to the top and one more friggin drop and everything is going to overflow and I'm going to lose my shit."  She wants to dig into Mom grief stuff this week so that should be a treat.  Originally my appointment was Thursday smack in the middle of the bathroom remodel but I asked to be put on a cancellation list and thankfully the next day her Tuesday morning cancelled. I can only imagine how fun it would be for the bathroom dudes to be standing over the vent as I was sitting at the table in front of the HVAC sobbing as it traveled up for their entertainment.

Saturday and Sunday the drops tipped me over my proverbial cup.  There was some rage cleaning involved, isolation, and it wasn't a great mental weekend.  Certainly not that easy going, relaxing one I said I needed in Friday's post so apparently that's never going to be in the cards.  It feels like every time I get to that point where I desperately need it or I'm going to go off of the deeper end, it doesn't happen and I get to keep tamping down what I feel like I need to survive.  It's very hard to feel like I'm not being punished so I guess one to write down for an upcoming therapy sesh.  🙄

I suppose we need to get the vanity doors on, the hardware attached, the bathroom cleaned up and clean the friggin house.  It doesn't help I have the urge to drag everything we own into the middle of each room, throw 70% of it into a box and get rid of it all.  Last night we did a holiday grief webinar and I wish I'd gotten more out of it than I did idea wise.  Since I've been reading grief books and stuff all along, I felt like I didn't get anything more than I've already read.  I'm thankful the Mr was willing to sit down and watch it with me.  Then before we knew it, it was time for Homestead Rescue and bed.  

Boom 💥... weekend over.

Please tell me at least one of you enjoyed your weekend so I can live vicariously through you.

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What I'm Reading This Week #45

Hello there and happy Friday!  I hope you had a good first week of November.  I've been chucking myself headfirst into some work stuff and posts here so that I can give my brain a break as the holidays approach.  I have the inside of the medicine cabinet painted and covered where needed so that's ready to roll. The vanity is painted...torn apart but painted but it needs 5 weeks to cure anyway and I'm still getting gassed out by the alkyd paint.  Wednesday I started priming the bathroom where I could.  The walls need to be sealed so I wanted to get a jump on that and I was NOT sad to see that God awful blue paint go.  (Blue paint that I don't think we even showed an "after" on two years ago I hated it so much!) So a little progress was made last weekend and early in the week on that front.  

Then we got a start date for the bathroom.  Next Wednesday through Friday.  So now the butt puckering panic sets in because once they're done, it's all on us to blow through scraping the bubbling parts of the ceiling and oil based priming it, flooring, toilet removal and installation, baseboard painting and installation, door trim removal and cutting/installing new, priming the walls, wallpapering the walls, installing the panels and boards and painting, making the medicine cabinet door and the trim around it, install the vanity light, hooks, towel rings and hooks and temporarily put the vanity in so it can be measured for a new countertop/sink installation.  So you know, simple stuff.  

Let's hop into:

Dietitians Say This Is the Ideal Time to Eat Dinner—and It's Earlier Than You Might Think  (Is this early??)

Anxiety Is Now Tied to Dementia: Here’s How Much It Increases the Risk  (Great.  Guess I'd better get my shit together)

After 13 years, scientists discover how to 'reverse cholesterol damage' later on in life  (Wow, this is actually super doable!)

I'm a physical therapist and coach: Here are 4 simple exercises I do every day for long-term health and to feel good in my body (Definitely good ones to do!)

The #1 Thing to Avoid If You Have Chronic Inflammation  (It might not be what you think)

Life changing new eye drops can make reading glasses obsolete  (Hmm, I may need to do more research into this)

'90s fitness guru lost multimillion-dollar empire, delivered food for Grubhub and Uber Eats in ‘desperation’  (If you're here, chances are you remember her.)

New automatic airline refund rules are now in effect — here's what's covered  (For those traveling this holiday season)

8 Ideal Vermont Destinations for a 3-Day Weekend in 2024  (I don't think we've been to Waitsfield yet so might have to poke around.  The closest we almost came was being offered a free room in the town during our power outage trip but I'll take a dark entire home over cramming in a single room.)

Butterball Just Launched a Freezer-to-Oven Turkey That You Don’t Have to Thaw  ( Might be a good solution for some people.  I get a little suspicious when I see phrases like "specially formulated" anything though.)

If you're looking for some fun Thanksgiving duds or Black Friday goodies, time is winding down to get them in time to show off.  Swing by the shop to see if anything hits your fancy!

(Bibliophile (Book Lover) Candle - Funny Pumpkin Pie Tee - Thankful for Pie Sweatshirt - Apple Harvest Candle - Black Friday Crew Tumbler - Cookie Baking Crew Shirt)

I guess if we want any freedom this is the final weekend to do it because we're definitely going to be busy the rest of the month.  We got our pneumonia shots last night since they dropped the age and just like my first shingles shot, it's rearing it's head this morning.  That's exactly why we did it this weekend because we need our arms next weekend!  But dang that woman hit me in the exact same spot as my 4 week old shingles vax like she was aiming for it! 🙄

What are you up to this weekend, party people?  

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